OpenLegislation

Digital Economy Act 2017 in Northern Ireland

2017 c. 30 · Enacted 27 April 2017 · Extends to United Kingdom

Up to date with all changes known to legislation.gov.uk, revised to 30 September 2026.

An Act to make provision about electronic communications infrastructure and services; to provide for restricting access to online pornography; to make provision about protection of intellectual property in connection with electronic communications; to make provision about data-sharing; to make provision in connection with section 68 of the Telecommunications Act 1984; to make provision about functions of OFCOM in relation to the BBC; to provide for determination by the BBC of age-related TV licence fee concessions; to make provision about the regulation of direct marketing; to make other provision about OFCOM and its functions; to make provision about internet filters; to make provision about preventing or restricting the use of communication devices in connection with drug dealing offences; to confer power to create an offence of breaching limits on ticket sales; to make provision about the payment of charges to the Information Commissioner; to make provision about payment systems and securities settlement systems; to make provision about qualifications in information technology; and for connected purposes.

[27th April 2017]

Be it enacted by the Queen's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—C1

Annotations to the whole text

Modifications

C1

Act amendments to 2003 c. 21, by s. 89 extended to Jersey (1.6.2020) by The Communications (Jersey) Order 2020 (S.I. 2020/530), art. 2

Contents

  1. Part 1: Access to digital services
  2. 1Universal service broadband obligations
  3. 2General conditions: switching communications provider
  4. 3Automatic compensation for failure to meet performance standards
  5. Part 2: Digital infrastructure
  6. Electronic communications code
  7. 4The electronic communications code
  8. 5Power to make transitional provision in connection with the code
  9. 6Power to make consequential provision etc in connection with the code
  10. 7Application of the code: protection of the environment
  11. Dynamic spectrum access services
  12. 8Regulation of dynamic spectrum access services
  13. Other regulation of spectrum
  14. 9Penalties for contravention of wireless telegraphy licences
  15. 10Fixed penalties under Wireless Telegraphy Act 2006
  16. 11Search warrants under Wireless Telegraphy Act 2006
  17. 12Disposal of seized property under Wireless Telegraphy Act 2006
  18. 13Time limits for prosecutions under Wireless Telegraphy Act 2006
  19. Part 3: Online pornography Repealed
  20. 14Internet pornography: requirement to prevent access by persons under 18 Repealed
  21. 15Meaning of “pornographic material” Repealed
  22. 16The age-verification regulator: designation and funding Repealed
  23. 17Parliamentary procedure for designation of age-verification regulator Repealed
  24. 18Regulator's power to require information Not yet in force
  25. 19Enforcement by regulator of sections 14 and 18 Not yet in force
  26. 20Financial penalties imposed by regulator Not yet in force
  27. 21Notice by regulator to payment-services providers and ancillary service providers Repealed
  28. 22Meaning of “extreme pornographic material” Repealed
  29. 23Regulator's power to require internet service providers to block access to material Not yet in force
  30. 24No power to give notice under section 23(1) where detrimental to national security etc Not yet in force
  31. 25Guidance to be published by regulator Repealed
  32. 26Exercise of functions by regulator Repealed
  33. 27Guidance by Secretary of State to regulator Repealed
  34. 28Requirements for notices given by regulator under this Part Not yet in force
  35. 29Report on this Part Not yet in force
  36. 30Interpretation and general provisions relating to this Part Repealed
  37. Part 4: Intellectual Property
  38. 31Lending of e-books by public libraries
  39. 32Offences: infringing copyright and making available right
  40. 33Registered designs: infringement: marking product with internet link
  41. 34Copyright etc where broadcast retransmitted by cable
  42. Part 5: Digital government
  43. Chapter 1: Public service delivery
  44. 35Disclosure of information to improve public service delivery
  45. 40Further provisions about disclosures under any of sections 35 to 39
  46. 41Confidentiality of personal information
  47. 42Information disclosed by the Revenue and Customs
  48. 43Code of practice
  49. 44Regulations under this Chapter
  50. 45Interpretation of this Chapter etc
  51. Chapter 2: Civil registration
  52. 46Disclosure of information by civil registration officials
  53. 47Consequential provision
  54. Chapter 3: Debt owed to the public sector
  55. 48Disclosure of information to reduce debt owed to the public sector
  56. 49Further provisions about power in section 48
  57. 50Confidentiality of personal information
  58. 51Information disclosed by the Revenue and Customs
  59. 52Code of practice
  60. 53Duty to review operation of Chapter
  61. 54Regulations under this Chapter
  62. 55Interpretation of this Chapter
  63. Chapter 4: Fraud against the public sector
  64. 56Disclosure of information to combat fraud against the public sector
  65. 57Further provisions about power in section 56
  66. 58Confidentiality of personal information
  67. 59Information disclosed by the Revenue and Customs
  68. 60Code of practice
  69. 61Duty to review operation of Chapter
  70. 62Regulations under this Chapter
  71. 63Interpretation of this Chapter
  72. Chapter 5: Sharing for research purposes
  73. 64Disclosure of information for research purposes
  74. 65Provisions supplementary to section 64
  75. 66Bar on further disclosure of personal information
  76. 67Information disclosed by the Revenue and Customs
  77. 68Information disclosed by the Welsh Revenue Authority
  78. 69Information disclosed by Revenue Scotland
  79. 70Code of practice
  80. 71Accreditation for the purposes of this Chapter
  81. 72Delegation of functions of the Statistics Board
  82. 73Interpretation of this Chapter
  83. Chapter 6: Disclosure by revenue authorities
  84. 74Disclosure of non-identifying information by the Revenue and Customs
  85. 75Disclosure of non-identifying information by the Welsh Revenue Authority
  86. 76Disclosure of non-identifying information by Revenue Scotland
  87. 77Disclosure of employer reference information by the Revenue and Customs
  88. Chapter 7: Statistics
  89. 78Disclosure of information by the Revenue and Customs to the Statistics Board
  90. 79Disclosure of information by public authorities to the Statistics Board
  91. 80Access to information by the Statistics Board
  92. 81Disclosure by the Statistics Board to devolved administrations
  93. Part 6: Miscellaneous
  94. OFCOM: reports etc
  95. 82OFCOM reports on infrastructure etc
  96. 83Comparative overviews of quality and prices
  97. OFCOM: information
  98. 84Conditions about allocation of telephone numbers
  99. 85Provision of information to OFCOM
  100. 86Information required from communications providers
  101. Appeals
  102. 87Appeals from decisions of OFCOM and others: standard of review
  103. Regulation and functions of BBC
  104. 88Functions of OFCOM in relation to the BBC
  105. 89TV licence fee concessions by reference to age
  106. Provision of children's programmes
  107. 90Provision of children's programmes
  108. OFCOM powers relating to criminal content etc
  109. 91Suspension of radio licences for inciting crime or disorder
  110. 92Digital additional services: seriously harmful extrinsic material
  111. On-demand programme services
  112. 93On-demand programme services: accessibility for people with disabilities Repealed
  113. 94On-demand programme services: specially restricted material Not yet in force
  114. Electronic Programme Guides
  115. 95Electronic programme guides and public service channels
  116. Direct marketing code
  117. 96Direct marketing code
  118. Televising events of national interest
  119. 97Televising events of national interest: power to amend qualifying conditions
  120. Other provisions relating to OFCOM
  121. 98Strategic priorities and provision of information
  122. 99OFCOM and Northern Ireland
  123. 100Retention by OFCOM of amounts paid under Wireless Telegraphy Act 2006
  124. 101International recognition of satellite frequency assignments: power of OFCOM to charge fees
  125. Billing limits for mobile phones
  126. 102Billing limits for mobile phones
  127. Online social media platforms
  128. 103Code of practice for providers of online social media platforms Repealed
  129. Internet filters
  130. 104Internet filters
  131. Ticket sales
  132. 105Secondary ticketing: duty to provide information about tickets
  133. 106Power to create offence of breaching limits on internet and other ticket sales
  134. Communication devices used for drug dealing
  135. 107Prevention or restriction of use of communication devices for drug dealing
  136. Charges payable to the Information Commissioner
  137. 108Regulations about charges payable to the Information Commissioner Repealed
  138. 109Functions relating to regulations under section 108 Repealed
  139. 110Supplementary provision relating to section 108 Repealed
  140. 111Amendments relating to section 108
  141. Payment and securities settlement systems
  142. 112Power to apply settlement finality regime to payment institutions
  143. 113Bank of England oversight of payment systems
  144. Qualifications in information technology
  145. Guarantee of pension liabilities under Telecommunications Act 1984
  146. 115Guarantee of pension liabilities under Telecommunications Act 1984
  147. 116Regulations under section 115
  148. Part 7: General
  149. 117Financial provisions
  150. 118Commencement
  151. 119Extent
  152. 120Short title
  153. Schedule 1: The electronic communications code
  154. Paragraph
  155. Schedule 2: The electronic communications code: transitional provision
  156. Interpretation
  157. 1Paragraph 1
  158. Effect of subsisting agreement
  159. 2Paragraph 2
  160. Limitation of code rights
  161. 3Paragraph 3
  162. Limitation of persons bound
  163. 4Paragraph 4
  164. Exclusion of assignment ... provisions
  165. 5Paragraph 5
  166. Upgrading and sharing provisions
  167. 5AParagraph 5A
  168. Termination and modification of agreements
  169. 6Paragraph 6
  170. 7Paragraph 7
  171. Apparatus, works etc
  172. 8Paragraph 8
  173. 9Paragraph 9
  174. 10Paragraph 10
  175. Court applications for required rights etc
  176. 11Paragraph 11
  177. 12Paragraph 12
  178. Temporary code rights
  179. 13Paragraph 13
  180. Compensation
  181. 14Paragraph 14
  182. Objections in relation to apparatus
  183. 15Paragraph 15
  184. 16Paragraph 16
  185. 17Paragraph 17
  186. Tree lopping
  187. 18Paragraph 18
  188. 19Paragraph 19
  189. Right to require removal of apparatus
  190. 20Paragraph 20
  191. Undertaker's works
  192. 21Paragraph 21
  193. Supplementary
  194. 22Paragraph 22
  195. 23Paragraph 23
  196. 24Paragraph 24
  197. 25Paragraph 25
  198. Schedule 3: Electronic communications code: consequential amendments
  199. Part 1: General provision
  200. Interpretation
  201. 1Paragraph 1
  202. References to the code or provisions of the code
  203. 2Paragraph 2
  204. References to a conduit system
  205. 3Paragraph 3
  206. Part 2: Amendments of particular enactments
  207. Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 (c. 56)
  208. 4Paragraph 4
  209. Opencast Coal Act 1958 (c. 69)
  210. 5Paragraph 5
  211. Land Drainage (Scotland) Act 1958 (c. 24)
  212. 6Paragraph 6
  213. Pipe-lines Act 1962 (c. 58)
  214. 7Paragraph 7
  215. Harbours Act 1964 (c. 40)
  216. 8Paragraph 8
  217. Fair Trading Act 1973 (c. 41)
  218. 9Paragraph 9
  219. Highways Act 1980 (c. 66)
  220. 10Paragraph 10
  221. 11Paragraph 11
  222. 12Paragraph 12
  223. Roads (Scotland) Act 1984 (c. 54)
  224. 13Paragraph 13
  225. 14Paragraph 14
  226. 15Paragraph 15
  227. 16Paragraph 16
  228. Housing Act 1985 (c. 68)
  229. 17Paragraph 17
  230. 18Paragraph 18
  231. 19Paragraph 19
  232. 20Paragraph 20
  233. Food and Environment Protection Act 1985 (c. 48)
  234. 21Paragraph 21
  235. 22Paragraph 22
  236. 23Paragraph 23
  237. Airports Act 1986 (c. 31)
  238. 24Paragraph 24
  239. 25Paragraph 25
  240. Landlord and Tenant Act 1987 (c. 31)
  241. 26Paragraph 26
  242. Road Traffic (Driver Licensing and Information Systems) Act 1989 (c. 22)
  243. 27Paragraph 27
  244. Electricity Act 1989 (c. 29)
  245. 28Paragraph 28
  246. Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (c. 8)
  247. 29Paragraph 29
  248. Water Industry Act 1991 (c. 56)
  249. 30Paragraph 30
  250. Water Resources Act 1991 (c. 57)
  251. 31Paragraph 31
  252. Electricity (Northern Ireland) Order 1992 (S.I. 1992/231)
  253. 32Paragraph 32
  254. Cardiff Bay Barrage Act 1993 (c. 42)
  255. 33Paragraph 33
  256. Roads (Northern Ireland) Order 1993 (S.I. 1993/3160)
  257. 34Paragraph 34
  258. Airports (Northern Ireland) Order 1994 (S.I. 1994/426)
  259. 35Paragraph 35
  260. Landlord and Tenant (Covenants) Act 1995 (c. 30)
  261. 36Paragraph 36
  262. Gas Act 1995 (c. 45)
  263. 37Paragraph 37
  264. Channel Tunnel Rail Link Act 1996 (c. 61)
  265. 38Paragraph 38
  266. Gas (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 (S.I. 1996/275)
  267. 39Paragraph 39
  268. Business Tenancies (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 (SI 1996/725 (NI 5))
  269. 40Paragraph 40
  270. Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 (c. 8)
  271. 41Paragraph 41
  272. Enterprise Act 2002 (c. 40)
  273. 42Paragraph 42
  274. 43Paragraph 43
  275. 44Paragraph 44
  276. Communications Act 2003 (c. 21)
  277. 45Paragraph 45
  278. 46Paragraph 46
  279. 47Paragraph 47
  280. 48Paragraph 48
  281. Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 (asp 2)
  282. 49Paragraph 49
  283. Housing and Regeneration Act 2008 (c. 17)
  284. 50Paragraph 50
  285. 51Paragraph 51
  286. 52Paragraph 52
  287. 53Paragraph 53
  288. Crossrail Act 2008 (c. 18)
  289. 54Paragraph 54
  290. Marine (Scotland) Act 2010 (asp 5)
  291. 55Paragraph 55
  292. 56Paragraph 56
  293. 57Paragraph 57
  294. Schedule 4: Public service delivery: specified persons for the purposes of section 35
  295. 1Paragraph 1
  296. 2Paragraph 2
  297. 3Paragraph 3
  298. 4Paragraph 4
  299. 5Paragraph 5
  300. 6Paragraph 6
  301. 7Paragraph 7
  302. 8Paragraph 8
  303. 9Paragraph 9
  304. 9AParagraph 9A
  305. 9BParagraph 9B
  306. 10Paragraph 10
  307. 11Paragraph 11
  308. 12Paragraph 12
  309. 13Paragraph 13
  310. 14Paragraph 14
  311. 15Paragraph 15
  312. 16Paragraph 16
  313. 17Paragraph 17
  314. 18Paragraph 18
  315. 19Paragraph 19
  316. 20Paragraph 20
  317. 21Paragraph 21
  318. 22Paragraph 22
  319. 23Paragraph 23
  320. 24Paragraph 24
  321. 25Paragraph 25
  322. 26Paragraph 26
  323. 27Paragraph 27
  324. 27BParagraph 27B
  325. 27CParagraph 27C
  326. 27DParagraph 27D
  327. 28Paragraph 28
  328. 28AParagraph 28A
  329. 29Paragraph 29
  330. 30Paragraph 30
  331. 31Paragraph 31
  332. 32Paragraph 32
  333. 33Paragraph 33
  334. 34Paragraph 34
  335. 36Paragraph 36
  336. 37Paragraph 37
  337. 39Paragraph 39
  338. 40Paragraph 40
  339. 41Paragraph 41
  340. 42Paragraph 42
  341. 43Paragraph 43
  342. 44Paragraph 44
  343. 45Paragraph 45
  344. 46Paragraph 46
  345. 47Paragraph 47
  346. 48Paragraph 48
  347. 49Paragraph 49
  348. 50Paragraph 50
  349. 51Paragraph 51
  350. 52Paragraph 52
  351. 19Paragraph 19
  352. 20Paragraph 20
  353. 21Paragraph 21
  354. 22Paragraph 22
  355. 23Paragraph 23
  356. 24Paragraph 24
  357. 25Paragraph 25
  358. 26Paragraph 26
  359. 27Paragraph 27
  360. 28Paragraph 28
  361. 29Paragraph 29
  362. 30Paragraph 30
  363. 31Paragraph 31
  364. 32Paragraph 32
  365. Part 1: UK AND ENGLISH BODIES
  366. 1Paragraph 1
  367. 3Paragraph 3
  368. 4Paragraph 4
  369. 5Paragraph 5
  370. 6Paragraph 6
  371. 7Paragraph 7
  372. 8Paragraph 8
  373. 9Paragraph 9
  374. 10Paragraph 10
  375. 11Paragraph 11
  376. 13Paragraph 13
  377. 14Paragraph 14
  378. 15Paragraph 15
  379. 16Paragraph 16
  380. 17Paragraph 17
  381. 18Paragraph 18
  382. 19Paragraph 19
  383. 20Paragraph 20
  384. 21Paragraph 21
  385. 22Paragraph 22
  386. 23Paragraph 23
  387. 24Paragraph 24
  388. 25Paragraph 25
  389. Schedule 7: Specified persons for the purposes of the debt provisions
  390. 1Paragraph 1
  391. 2Paragraph 2
  392. 3Paragraph 3
  393. 4Paragraph 4
  394. 5Paragraph 5
  395. 5AParagraph 5A
  396. 5BParagraph 5B
  397. 6Paragraph 6
  398. 7Paragraph 7
  399. 8Paragraph 8
  400. 9Paragraph 9
  401. 10Paragraph 10
  402. 11Paragraph 11
  403. 12Paragraph 12
  404. 13Paragraph 13
  405. 14Paragraph 14
  406. 15Paragraph 15
  407. 16Paragraph 16
  408. 17Paragraph 17
  409. 17AParagraph 17A
  410. 18Paragraph 18
  411. 19Paragraph 19
  412. 20Paragraph 20
  413. 21Paragraph 21
  414. 22Paragraph 22
  415. 23Paragraph 23
  416. 24Paragraph 24
  417. 25Paragraph 25
  418. 26Paragraph 26
  419. 27Paragraph 27
  420. 28Paragraph 28
  421. 29Paragraph 29
  422. 30Paragraph 30
  423. 31Paragraph 31
  424. 32Paragraph 32
  425. 33Paragraph 33
  426. 34Paragraph 34
  427. 35Paragraph 35
  428. 36Paragraph 36
  429. 37Paragraph 37
  430. 38Paragraph 38
  431. 39Paragraph 39
  432. Schedule 8: Specified persons for the purposes of the fraud provisions
  433. 1Paragraph 1
  434. 2Paragraph 2
  435. 3Paragraph 3
  436. 4Paragraph 4
  437. 5Paragraph 5
  438. 6Paragraph 6
  439. 7Paragraph 7
  440. 8Paragraph 8
  441. 9Paragraph 9
  442. 10Paragraph 10
  443. 11Paragraph 11
  444. 12Paragraph 12
  445. 12AParagraph 12A
  446. 12BParagraph 12B
  447. 13Paragraph 13
  448. 14Paragraph 14
  449. 15Paragraph 15
  450. 16Paragraph 16
  451. 17Paragraph 17
  452. 18Paragraph 18
  453. 19Paragraph 19
  454. 20Paragraph 20
  455. 21Paragraph 21
  456. 22Paragraph 22
  457. 23Paragraph 23
  458. 24Paragraph 24
  459. 25Paragraph 25
  460. 26Paragraph 26
  461. 27Paragraph 27
  462. 28Paragraph 28
  463. 29Paragraph 29
  464. 30Paragraph 30
  465. 31Paragraph 31
  466. 32Paragraph 32
  467. 32AParagraph 32A
  468. 33Paragraph 33 Repealed
  469. 34Paragraph 34 Repealed
  470. 35Paragraph 35 Repealed
  471. 36Paragraph 36 Repealed
  472. 37Paragraph 37 Repealed
  473. 38Paragraph 38 Repealed
  474. 39Paragraph 39 Repealed
  475. 40Paragraph 40 Repealed
  476. 41Paragraph 41
  477. 41AParagraph 41A
  478. 42Paragraph 42
  479. 43Paragraph 43
  480. 44Paragraph 44
  481. 45Paragraph 45
  482. 46Paragraph 46
  483. 47Paragraph 47
  484. 48Paragraph 48
  485. 49Paragraph 49
  486. 50Paragraph 50
  487. 51Paragraph 51
  488. 52Paragraph 52
  489. 53Paragraph 53
  490. 54Paragraph 54
  491. 55Paragraph 55
  492. 56Paragraph 56
  493. 57Paragraph 57
  494. 58Paragraph 58
  495. 59Paragraph 59
  496. 60Paragraph 60
  497. 61Paragraph 61
  498. 62Paragraph 62
  499. 63Paragraph 63
  500. 64Paragraph 64
  501. 65Paragraph 65
  502. 66Paragraph 66
  503. 67Paragraph 67
  504. 68Paragraph 68
  505. 69Paragraph 69
  506. 70Paragraph 70
  507. 71Paragraph 71
  508. 72Paragraph 72
  509. 73Paragraph 73
  510. 74Paragraph 74
  511. Schedule 9: Bank of England oversight of payment systems
  512. Part 1: Extension of Bank of England oversight of payment systems
  513. 1Paragraph 1
  514. 2Paragraph 2
  515. 3Paragraph 3
  516. 4Paragraph 4
  517. 5Paragraph 5
  518. 6Paragraph 6
  519. 7Paragraph 7
  520. 8Paragraph 8
  521. 9Paragraph 9
  522. 10Paragraph 10
  523. 11Paragraph 11
  524. 12Paragraph 12
  525. 13Paragraph 13
  526. 14Paragraph 14
  527. 15Paragraph 15
  528. 16Paragraph 16
  529. 17Paragraph 17
  530. 18Paragraph 18
  531. 19Paragraph 19
  532. 20Paragraph 20
  533. 21Paragraph 21
  534. 22Paragraph 22
  535. 23Paragraph 23
  536. 24Paragraph 24
  537. 25Paragraph 25
  538. 26Paragraph 26
  539. 27Paragraph 27
  540. 28Paragraph 28
  541. 29Paragraph 29
  542. 30Paragraph 30
  543. Part 2: Consequential amendments
  544. Financial Services Act 2012
  545. 31Paragraph 31
  546. 32Paragraph 32
  547. 33Paragraph 33
  548. 34Paragraph 34
  549. Financial Services (Banking Reform) Act 2013
  550. 35Paragraph 35
  551. 36Paragraph 36
  552. 37Paragraph 37
  553. 38Paragraph 38
  554. 39Paragraph 39
  555. 40Paragraph 40
  556. 41Paragraph 41
  557. 42Paragraph 42
  558. 43Paragraph 43
  559. 44Paragraph 44
  560. 45Paragraph 45